Hypericum plant named ‘Ruihyg234a’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hypericum×Inodorum , ‘Ruihyg234a’, that is characterized by its compact plant habit suitable for container growing, its medium sized berries that are purple-brown in color and ovate in shape and its compact flowers with a flat aspect.

Botanical classification: Hypericum×Inodorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Ruihyg234a’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHypericum×Inodorum and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Ruihyg234a’. ‘Ruihyg234a’ is a semi-evergreen shrub grown for useas a landscape plant and container plantings.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. The overallpurpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars ofHypericum plants with unique berries and improved resistance toMelampsora hypericorum.

The new cultivar arose from a cross made by the Inventor in Hazerswoude,The Netherlands in April 2006 between an unnamed plant from theInventor's breeding program, designated ‘Hp-02-0009-196’ as the femaleparent and ‘Annelies Hypearl’ (not patented) as the male parent. TheInventor selected ‘Ruihyg234a’ as a single unique plant amongst theseedlings that resulted from the above cross in 2008.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor by vegetative stem cuttings in 2009 in Hazerswoude, TheNetherlands. Asexual propagation by vegetative stem cuttings hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Ruihyg234a’ as a unique cultivar of Hypericum.

-   -   1. ‘Ruihyg234a’ exhibits a compact plant habit suitable for        container growing.    -   2. ‘Ruihyg234a’ exhibits medium sized berries that are        purple-brown in color and ovate in shape.    -   3. ‘Ruihyg234a’ exhibits compact flowers with a flat aspect.        The female parent of ‘Ruihyg234a’, ‘Hp-02-0009-196’, differs        from ‘Ruihyg234a’ in having berries that are green in color and        in having inflorescences that are not as compact and flat. The        male parent of ‘Ruihyg234a’, ‘Annelies Hypearyl’, differs from        ‘Ruihyg234a’ in having berries that are green in color.        ‘Ruihyg234a’ can be most closely compared to the cultivar ‘Bjork        Hypearl’ (not patented). ‘Bjork Hypearl’ differs from        ‘Ruihyg234a’ in having orange-brown colored berries that are        oval in shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Hypericum. The plants in thephotographs were taken of plants two years in age as grown in aone-gallon container in a greenhouse Lelystad, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Ruihyg234a’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘Ruihyg234a’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a flower bud andberries of ‘Ruihyg234a’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available and the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the newHypericum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants the newcultivar as grown outdoors in 2-gallon containers in Davidsonville, Md.The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—From July to September in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Semi-evergreen shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact with suitability for container growing.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches an average of 35 cm in height and            45 cm in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy to at least −10° C.        -   Diseases.—Has shown tolerance to Melampsora hypericorum.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate, typical for cultivars of            Hypericum×Inodorum.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—New growth; a blend of 62B and 145C, maturing            branches become 199C as they become woody.        -   Stem size.—Main stems; about 3 mm in diameter and 34 cm in            length, lateral branches; an average of 30 cm in length and            1.7 mm in width.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.        -   Internode length.—Average of 1.5 cm.        -   Branching.—Moderately branched with lateral branches upright            to about a 30° angle from vertical.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to slightly lanceolate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, slightly conspicuous, 144C on upper            surface, 138B to 138C on lower surface.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite, aspect is horizontal to slightly            upward.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf substance.—Moderate.        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous on upper and lower surface.        -   Leaf size.—Up to about 4.5 cm in length, up to about 1.5 cm            in width.        -   Leaf color.—Newly expanded and mature leaves; upper surface            a color between 137C and 144A, lower surface 138B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary flowers from terminal of            lateral branches.        -   Flower buds.—Conical in shape with acute apex, up to 7 mm in            length and 5 mm in width prior to opening, calyx portion is            wrapped around petals and 138A in color, petal portion            emerges 177A in color and changes to 15A prior to opening.        -   Flower fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower quantity.—An average of 7 per lateral branch.        -   Flower type.—Complete, compact, rotate with reflexed to            horizontal petals and prominent stamens and ovary.        -   Flower aspect.—Upward facing.        -   Flower lastingness.—About 5 days.        -   Flower size.—Average of 2 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in            depth.        -   Petals.—5, narrow oblong in shape, un-fused, curved inward            and becoming horizontal, both surfaces glabrous and satiny,            entire margin, cuneate base, rounded apex, 1 cm in length            and 5 mm in width, color is 15A (opening and mature, lower            and upper surface).        -   Calyx.—Reflexed, un-fused sepals, about 1 cm in diameter and            8 mm in depth.        -   Sepals.—5, lanceolate in shape, 138A in color on upper            surface and 138B in color on lower surface, glabrous on            upper and lower surface, 7 mm length and 4 mm in width,            entire margin, round-truncate base, acute-attenuate apex.        -   Peduncles.—Up to 1 cm in length, 1 mm in width, 144A in            color, glabrous surface.        -   Pedicels.—About 1 cm in length, 1 mm in width, 144A in            color, glabrous surface.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Compound pistil about 1.5 cm in length and 1.5 cm            in width, styles; 3, 187A in color and about 8 mm in length            and 0.5 mm in length, stigmas; 3, 187A in color about 0.5 mm            in diameter, ovary is superior and 144C in color, about 6 mm            in length and 4 mm in width.        -   Androcoecium.—Numerous stamens (about 100, arranged in 5            tufts), spreading outward from base of ovary extending about            2 cm in diameter, filaments are 26A in color, about 8 mm in            length and 0.4 mm in width, anthers are 17C in color,            dorsifixed, about 1 mm in length and 0.5 in width, pollen is            moderate and 17C in color.        -   Fruit.—Ovate in shape with a mucronate apex, glabrous and            satiny surface, and average of 9 mm in length and 5 mm in            width, a blend of 166A and 183A in color.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hypericum plant named ‘Ruihyg234a’ as herein illustrated and described. 